PART I

VOTING MACHINES AND TABULATORS

Sec. 9-238. Voting tabulators required. Notification of purchase or discontinuance of use. (a) Except as provided in section 9-272, voting tabulators shall be used at all elections held in any municipality, or in any part thereof, for voting and registering and counting votes cast at such elections for officers, and upon all questions or amendments submitted at such elections. The board of selectmen of each town, the common council of each city and the warden and burgesses of each borough shall purchase or lease, or otherwise provide, for use at elections in each such municipality a number of voting tabulators approved by the Secretary of the State. Different voting tabulators may be provided for different voting districts in the same municipality. Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection to the contrary, the registrars of voters of a municipality may determine the number of voting tabulators that shall be provided for use at any special election in such municipality, provided the registrars shall provide at least one voting tabulator in the municipality or, in a municipality divided into voting districts, at least one voting tabulator in each such district.

(b) Upon the purchase or lease of a voting tabulator for use in any municipality, the officials of such municipality purchasing or leasing the same shall forthwith send notification in writing to the Secretary of the State of the name or make of such tabulator, the name of the person who manufactured the same, the name of the person from whom it was purchased or leased and the date on which it was purchased or leased. No voting tabulator shall be used in an election which, in the opinion of the Secretary of the State, does not conform to the requirements of law, is unsuitable for use in such election or does not comply with the voluntary performance and test standards for voting systems adopted by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, 43 USC 15481. When in any municipality the use of a voting tabulator at elections is discontinued because of its age or condition or because it is sold, or for any other reason, such officials shall send written notification to the Secretary of the discontinuance of such tabulator, of the time of and reason for such discontinuance and of the information required in connection with notification of original purchasing or leasing.

History: 1969 acts provided for discontinuance of use of old voting machines and provided for additional voting machines according to number of electors and in municipalities having less than 5,000 electors in lieu of additional machine officials may provide sample voting machine ballot labels, effective with respect to all elections held on or after January 1, 1970; P.A. 80-339 substituted “absentee ballots” for “sample voting machine ballot labels” and “emergency paper” for “unofficial” ballots where appearing; P.A. 91-7 divided section into Subsecs. and added provision in Subsec. (a) allowing registrars to determine number of voting machines for special elections; P.A. 91-351 changed effective date of P.A. 91-7 from October 1, 1991, to July 1, 1991; P.A. 94-203 amended Subsec. (a) to require registrars to exclude 75% of names of electors residing in institutions when calculating required number of voting machines, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 07-194 replaced “voting machines” with “voting tabulators”, deleted procedures re voting machines, required tabulators to comply with voluntary performance and test standards for voting systems adopted by the Election Assistance Commission and made technical changes; P.A. 11-20 replaced “voting machines” with “tabulators” and deleted reference to Sec. 9-271 in Subsec. (a), effective May 24, 2011.

Sec. 9-238a. Report to Secretary of number of voting tabulators. During the first week of February in each year, the town clerk of each town shall notify the Secretary of the State, on a form provided by said Secretary, of the total number of voting tabulators in such town and, in towns divided into voting districts, in addition, the same information for each voting district. If the number of tabulators listed in such notification is less than the number required under section 9-238, the town clerk shall include in such notification an explanation of the discrepancy. Each such clerk shall also file a duplicate copy of such notification with the officials who are required to provide voting tabulators in the clerk’s municipality under section 9-238.

History: P.A. 87-509 required town clerk to include in notification the total number of names on each enrollment list and total number of unaffiliated electors in the town; P.A. 97-154 required total number of names reported to Secretary of the State to be on “active” registry list, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 11-20 eliminated requirement re reporting of number of electors, replaced “machines” with “tabulators” and made technical changes, effective May 24, 2011.

Sec. 9-239. Payment for voting tabulators. The fiscal authority in each municipality shall authorize payment of the bill incurred for the purchase or lease or other method of acquisition of an adequate number of voting tabulators incurred by the officials responsible for providing the same under the provisions of section 9-238.

(1955, S. 716d; 1957, P.A. 561, S. 2; P.A. 11-20, S. 1.)

History: Pursuant to P.A. 11-20, “machines” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “tabulators”, effective May 24, 2011.

Sec. 9-240. Provision of voting tabulators and booths. The board of selectmen in each town, unless otherwise provided by law, shall provide or may authorize the registrars to provide a suitable room or rooms and voting tabulator booths for holding all elections. The interior of the booths shall be secure from outside observation. Said board shall provide for each polling place, in accordance with the requirements of section 9-238, one or more voting tabulators in complete working order, and shall preserve and keep them in repair and have the custody of the voting tabulators, and the care and custody of the furniture and equipment of the polling place, when not in use at an election.

History: 1967 act deleted provision for public notice of location of rooms and voting machine booths; pursuant to P.A. 11-20, “machine” and “machines” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “tabulator” and “tabulators”, respectively, effective May 24, 2011.

Irregularities in arranging polling place held not to invalidate election. 75 C. 53.

Sec. 9-240a. Periodic examination of voting tabulators. Not more than two hundred ten days nor less than thirty days prior to each regular election for state officers, each voting tabulator to be used in the next succeeding regular election, including each additional tabulator required under section 9-238, shall be examined by the company which manufactured the same or its successor or, with the approval of the Secretary of the State, by persons skilled in the mechanics and operation of such tabulator, for the purpose of determining that such tabulator is in sound operable condition for use in such election. Arrangements for such examination shall be made by the officials responsible for providing voting tabulators under section 9-238. The company or person making such examination shall file a report with respect to each tabulator with the Secretary of the State and with such officials, indicating whether or not such tabulator is in sound operable condition. When, as a result of any such examination, a tabulator is found not to be in sound operable condition, such officials shall have such tabulator repaired, or shall provide a voting tabulator in sound operable condition to replace the tabulator found inoperable. The cost for such examination in each town shall be paid by such town. Failure to cause the examination of a voting tabulator, as herein required, shall not, of itself, prevent the use of such tabulator in any election.

History: 1969 act deleted obsolete language and required examination of additional machines required under Sec. 9-238; P.A. 87-382 required examination of machines not more than 210 days or less than 30 days before election rather than “during the period from seven months to one month” before election; P.A. 11-20 replaced “machine” with “tabulator” and “machines” with “tabulators” and made technical changes, effective May 24, 2011.

Sec. 9-241. Examination and approval of tabulators by Secretary. Subsequent alteration made by voting tabulator companies. Use of hole-punch voting tabulators prohibited. Regulations. Agreement with The University of Connecticut or Connecticut State University System. (a) Any person owning or holding an interest in any voting tabulator, as defined in subsection (w) of section 9-1, may apply to the Secretary of the State to examine such tabulator and report on its accuracy and efficiency. The Secretary of the State shall examine the tabulator and determine whether, in the Secretary’s opinion, the kind of tabulator so examined (1) meets the requirements of section 9-242, (2) can be used at elections, primaries and referenda held pursuant to this title, and (3) complies with applicable standards for electronic voting tabulators. If the Secretary of the State determines that the tabulator can be so used, such tabulator may be adopted for such use. No tabulator not so approved shall be so used. Each application shall be accompanied by a fee of one hundred dollars and the Secretary of the State shall not approve any tabulator until such fee and the expenses incurred by the Secretary in making the examination have been paid by the person making such application. Any voting tabulator company that has had its voting tabulator approved and that subsequently alters such tabulator in any way shall provide the Secretary of the State with notice of such alterations, including a description thereof and a statement of the purpose of such alterations. If any such alterations appear to materially affect the accuracy, appearance or efficiency of the tabulator, or modify the tabulator so that it can no longer be used at elections, primaries or referenda held pursuant to this title, at the discretion of the Secretary of the State, the company shall submit such alterations for inspection and approval, at its own expense, before such altered tabulators may be used. The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning examination and approval of voting tabulators under this section. No voting tabulator that records votes by means of holes punched in designated voting response locations may be approved or used at any election, primary or referendum held pursuant to this title.

(b) The Secretary of the State may enter into an agreement with The University of Connecticut or a member of the Connecticut State University System to perform or assist in performing the following functions: (1) Any technical review, testing or research associated with the certification of voting equipment, (2) any technical review, testing or research associated with the decertification of voting equipment, (3) the development of standards for the use of voting equipment during any election, primary or referenda, (4) the development of standards to ensure the accuracy of voting equipment, (5) the development of standards and procedures for the security, set-up and storage of voting equipment, (6) the development of standards, procedures and oversight of post-election audits, (7) the development of standards for recanvass procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of any such recanvass, (8) the development of standards and procedures for the testing, security and use of an election management system, (9) the development of standards and procedures for the programming of ballots and voting equipment, (10) research and analysis of data formats for ballot programming and election-related electronic data, and (11) the development of any other standards necessary to protect the integrity of voting equipment.

History: P.A. 73-304 provided for notice to secretary of the state by any voting machine company of alterations to already approved machines under certain conditions; P.A. 84-319 amended section to reflect changes made in Secs. 9-241a and 9-242; P.A. 93-384 authorized the secretary of the state to adopt regulations re examination and approval of machines, effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 03-7 prohibited use of voting machines that record votes by means of holes punched in designated locations and made technical changes, effective April 29, 2003; P.A. 05-235 inserted Subdiv. (1) and (2) designators, added Subdiv. (3) re compliance of electronic voting machines with standards adopted by Voting Technology Standards Board and made technical changes; P.A. 07-194 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re agreement with The University of Connecticut or member of Connecticut State University system, effective July 5, 2007; P.A. 11-20 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “machine” with “tabulator” and “machines” with “tabulators”, by deleting former Subdiv. (3) re Voting Technology Standards Board and by adding new Subdiv. (3) re compliance with applicable standards for electronic voting tabulators, effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdiv. (3) re Voting Technology Standards Board, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-242. Voting tabulator and direct recording electronic voting tabulator construction requirements. Attribution of unknown votes for cross-endorsed candidates. (a) A voting tabulator approved by the Secretary of the State shall be so constructed as to provide facilities for voting for the candidates of at least nine different parties or organizations. It shall permit voting in absolute secrecy. It shall be provided with a lock by means of which any illegal movement of the voting or registering mechanism is absolutely prevented. Such tabulator shall be so constructed that an elector cannot vote for a candidate or on a proposition for whom or on which the elector is not lawfully entitled to vote.

(b) It shall be so constructed as to prevent an elector from voting for more than one person for the same office, except when the elector is lawfully entitled to vote for more than one person for that office, and it shall afford the elector an opportunity to vote for only as many persons for that office as the elector is by law entitled to vote for, at the same time preventing the elector from voting for the same person twice. It shall be so constructed that all votes cast will be registered or recorded by the tabulator. In the event that a candidate is cross endorsed and an elector casts more than one vote for such candidate, such vote shall be attributed by the head moderator to the endorsing parties as provided for in this subsection. The head moderator shall (1) determine the percentage of all attributable votes the candidate received that are attributable to each endorsing party, (2) determine the number of ballots upon which an elector voted for the candidate more than once, and (3) apply the percentage determined under subdivision (1) of this subsection for an endorsing party to the total determined under subdivision (2) of this subsection. The resulting number from the calculation under subdivision (3) of this subsection shall be the number of votes the head moderator attributes to the endorsing party associated with the percentage used in the calculation under subdivision (3) of this subsection. The head moderator shall repeat the calculation in subdivision (3) of this subsection for each endorsing party. For any result under subdivision (3) of this subsection that is a fractional number, the head moderator shall round such result to the nearest whole number, provided a half number shall be rounded to the next highest whole number, and provided further that each such endorsing party with a percentage greater than zero under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall receive at least one such vote, with the remaining parties receiving a proportional reduction in votes, if necessary. If any vote remains that can not be evenly attributed to such parties, such vote shall be attributed to the endorsing party with the most votes.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary of the State may approve a voting tabulator which requires the elector in the polls to place the elector’s ballot into the recording device and which meets the voluntary performance and test standards for voting systems adopted by (1) the Federal Election Commission on January 25, 1990, as amended from time to time, or (2) the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, P.L. 107-252, 42 USC 15481-85, as amended from time to time, whichever standards are most current at the time of the Secretary of the State’s approval, and regulations which the Secretary of the State may adopt in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, provided the voting tabulator shall (A) warn the elector of overvotes, (B) not record overvotes, and (C) not record more than one vote of an elector for the same person for an office. In the event that a candidate is cross endorsed and an elector casts more than one vote for such candidate, such vote shall be attributed by the head moderator to the endorsing parties as provided for in this subsection. The head moderator shall (i) determine the percentage of all attributable votes the candidate received that are attributable to each endorsing party, (ii) determine the number of ballots upon which an elector voted for the candidate more than once, and (iii) apply the percentage determined under subparagraph (C)(i) of this subsection for an endorsing party to the total determined under subparagraph (C)(ii) of this subsection. The resulting number from the calculation under subparagraph (C)(iii) of this subsection shall be the number of votes the head moderator attributes to the endorsing party associated with the percentage used in the calculation under subparagraph (C)(iii) of this subsection. The head moderator shall repeat the calculation in subparagraph (C)(iii) of this subsection for each endorsing party. For any result under subparagraph (C)(iii) of this subsection that is a fractional number, the head moderator shall round such result to the nearest whole number, provided a half number shall be rounded to the next highest whole number, and provided further that each such endorsing party with a percentage greater than zero under subparagraph (C)(i) of this subsection shall receive at least one such vote, with the remaining parties receiving a proportional reduction in votes, if necessary. If any vote remains that can not be evenly attributed to such parties, such vote shall be attributed to the endorsing party with the most votes.

(d) Any direct recording electronic voting tabulator approved by the Secretary of the State for an election or primary held on or after July 1, 2005, shall be so constructed as to:

(1) (A) Contemporaneously produce an individual, permanent, paper record containing all of the elector’s selections of ballot preferences for candidates and questions or proposals, if any, prior to the elector’s casting a ballot, as set forth in this subsection, and (B) produce at any time after the close of the polls a voting tabulator generated, individual, permanent, paper record of each such elector’s selections of ballot preferences for candidates and questions or proposals, if any. Both the contemporaneously produced paper record and the voting tabulator generated paper record of each elector’s selections of ballot preferences shall include a voting tabulator generated unique identifier that can be matched against each other and which preserves the secrecy of the elector’s ballot as set forth in subdivision (4) of this subsection;

(2) Provide each elector with an opportunity to verify that the contemporaneously produced, individual, permanent, paper record accurately conforms to such elector’s selection of ballot preferences, as reflected on the electronic summary screen, and to hear, if desired, an audio description of such electronic summary screen, for the purpose of having an opportunity to make any corrections or changes prior to casting the ballot. If an elector makes corrections or changes prior to casting the ballot, the voting tabulator shall void such contemporaneously produced paper record, contemporaneously produce another paper record containing such corrections or changes and provide the elector with another opportunity to verify ballot preferences in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision. As used in this section, “electronic summary screen” means a screen generated by a direct recording electronic voting tabulator that displays a summary of an elector’s selections of ballot preferences for candidates and questions or proposals, if any, at an election or primary;

(3) Provide that a ballot shall be deemed cast on the voting tabulator at the time that an elector’s contemporaneously produced, individual, permanent, voter-verified paper record, containing all of the elector’s final selections of ballot preferences, is (A) deposited inside a receptacle designed to store all such paper records produced by such voting tabulator on the day of the election or primary, and (B) the elector’s selection of ballot preferences is simultaneously electronically recorded inside the voting tabulator for the purpose of (i) being electronically tabulated immediately after the polls are closed on the day of the election or primary, and (ii) producing, on such other day as required under section 9-242b, a voting tabulator generated, individual, permanent, paper record of each such elector’s selections of ballot preferences for candidates and questions or proposals, if any;

(4) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (1) of section 9-242b, secure the secrecy of each such elector’s ballot by making it impossible for any other individual to identify the elector in relationship to such elector’s selection of ballot preferences at the time that the elector (A) selects ballot preferences; (B) verifies the accuracy of the electronic summary screen by comparing it to the contemporaneously produced, individual, permanent, paper record or the audio description of such electronic summary screen, prior to casting a ballot; (C) makes corrections or changes by reselecting ballot preferences and verifies the accuracy of such preferences in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection prior to casting a ballot; and (D) casts the ballot; and at the time that all electors’ ballots are canvassed, recanvassed or otherwise tallied to produce a final count of the vote for candidates and questions or proposals, if any, whether through the electronic vote tabulation process or through the manual count process of each elector’s contemporaneously produced, individual, permanent, voter-verified paper record, as set forth in section 9-242b; and

(5) (A) Be accessible to blind or visually impaired persons by providing each elector, if desired by the elector, an audio description of the contemporaneously produced individual, permanent, paper record containing all of the elector’s selections of ballot preferences, in addition to an audio description of the electronic summary screen and comply with such additional standards of accessibility included in regulations that the Secretary of the State may adopt in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.

(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, on or before June 30, 2007, the Secretary of the State may approve an electronic voting tabulator that does not comply with the provisions of said subparagraph if (i) the Secretary determines that there are no electronic voting tabulators available for purchase or lease at the time of such approval that are capable of complying with said subparagraph (A), (ii) the electronic voting tabulator complies with the provisions of subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection, and (iii) the person applying to the Secretary for approval of the electronic voting tabulator agrees to include a provision in any contract for the sale or lease of such voting tabulators that requires such person, upon notification by the Secretary that modifications to such tabulators that would bring the tabulators into compliance with said subparagraph (A) are available, to (I) so modify any electronic voting tabulators previously sold or leased under such contract in order to comply with said subparagraph (A), and (II) provide that any electronic voting tabulators sold or leased after receipt of such notice comply with said subparagraph (A). No voting tabulator approved under this subparagraph shall be used on or after July 1, 2007, unless it has been modified to comply with the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision.

History: 1967 act provided that voting machines be so constructed that an elector, at his option, may vote for an individual either after operating the straight ticket device or without first operating such device, deleted provision for machines to have bells connected with straight ticket device so as to ring when such device is operated and deleted provision concerning capability of adjustment for use in primaries to permit voting for individuals without first operating a straight ticket device; P.A. 84-319 required approved machines to provide facilities for voting for at least nine parties’ candidates, rather than seven, and eliminated requirement that curtain levers have bell attached; P.A. 87-382 repealed provisions re straight ticket device; P.A. 93-384 divided existing section into Subsecs., moved requirement that voting machine be provided with a lock from Subsec. (b) to Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (c) re approval of machine which requires elector to place ballot into recording device; P.A. 05-188 amended Subsec. (c) by adding new Subdiv. (2) re compliance with standards adopted by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to the Help America Vote Act and making conforming and technical changes, and added Subsec. (d) re construction requirements for direct recording electronic voting machines, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 05-235 amended Subsec. (d)(5)(A) by adding requirement that direct recording electronic voting machines comply with standards of accessibility included in regulations that Secretary of the State may adopt, and amended Subsec. (d)(5)(B) by applying existing provisions “on or before June 30, 2007,” and prohibiting a voting machine approved under Subsec. (d)(5)(B) from being used on or after July 1, 2007, unless modified to comply with Subsec. (d)(5)(A), effective July 8, 2005; P.A. 11-20 replaced “machine” with “tabulator” and “machines” with “tabulators” and made technical changes, effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) by adding provisions re attribution of votes for cross-endorsed candidates, and replaced references to machines with references to tabulators and made technical changes throughout, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-242a. Regulations concerning use of voting machines. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, in the event that the Secretary of the State approves for use, in the manner provided by section 9-241, a kind of voting machine not so approved on January 1, 1985, said secretary shall adopt such regulations as may be necessary for the use of such machine, including but not limited to regulations for adjustment of such machine in preparation for voting, process of voting, canvass of votes cast, and certifications.

Sec. 9-242b. Procedures for use of direct recording electronic voting tabulators. The following procedures shall apply to any election or primary in which one or more direct recording electronic voting tabulators are used:

(1) Any elector who requires assistance by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write shall have the right to request assistance inside the voting booth by a person of the elector’s choice in accordance with 42 USC 1973aa-6, as amended from time to time, or section 9-264.

(2) A canvass of the votes shall take place inside the polling place immediately following the close of the polls on the day of the election or primary in accordance with the requirements of chapter 148. With respect to direct recording electronic voting tabulators, any such canvass shall be an electronic vote tabulation of all of the votes cast on each such voting tabulator for each candidate and question or proposal, and the moderator shall attach a printout of such electronic vote tabulation to the tally sheets. The moderator shall then add together all of the votes recorded on each voting tabulator in use at the polling place, whether or not such voting tabulators were direct recording electronic voting tabulators, to produce a cumulative count within the polling place of all candidates and any questions or proposals appearing on the ballot in the election or primary. Any member of the public shall have a right to be present in the polling place to observe the canvass of the votes beginning as soon as the polls are declared closed by the moderator and continuing throughout the canvass of the votes of each voting tabulator until the final canvass of all of the votes cast on all of the voting tabulators in use in the polling place are added together for each candidate and question or proposal and publicly announced and declared by the moderator.

(3) If a recanvass of the votes is required pursuant to chapter 148, the recanvass officials shall, in addition to the other requirements of said chapter, conduct a manual tally of the individual, permanent, voter-verified, paper records contemporaneously produced by each direct recording electronic voting tabulator used within the geographical jurisdiction that is subject to such recanvass. The manual tally conducted for the recanvass shall be limited to the particular candidates and questions or proposals that are subject to recanvass. If the manual tabulation of such contemporaneously produced paper records does not reconcile with the electronic vote tabulation of a particular direct recording electronic voting tabulator or tabulators, such contemporaneously produced paper records shall be considered the true and correct record of each elector’s vote on such electronic voting tabulator or tabulators and shall be used as the official record for purposes of declaring the official election results or for purposes of any subsequent recanvass, tally or election contest conducted pursuant to chapters 148 to 153, inclusive. If any of the contemporaneously produced individual, permanent, voter-verified paper records are found to have been damaged in such manner as they are unable to be manually tallied with respect to the ballot positions that are the subject of the recanvass, each such damaged record shall be matched against the voting tabulator generated, individual, permanent, paper record produced by the voting tabulator bearing the identical tabulator-generated unique identifier as the damaged record and, in such instance, shall be substituted as the official record for purposes of determining the final election results or for purposes of any subsequent recanvass, tally or election contest.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-311, the Secretary of the State may order a discrepancy recanvass under said section of the returns of an election or a primary for a district office, a state office or the office of elector of President and Vice-President of the United States, if the Secretary has reason to believe that discrepancies may have occurred that could affect the outcome of the election or primary. Any such discrepancy recanvass may be conducted of the returns in any or all voting districts in (A) the district in which an election or primary is held, in the case of an election or primary for a district office, or (B) the state, in the case of an election or primary for a state office or the office of elector of President and Vice-President of the United States or a presidential preference primary, whichever is applicable. As used in this subdivision, “district office” and “state office” have the same meanings as provided in section 9-372.

(5) Not later than five business days after each election in which a direct recording electronic voting tabulator is used, the registrars of voters or their designees, representing at least two political parties, shall conduct a manual audit of the votes recorded on at least (A) two direct recording electronic voting tabulators used in each assembly district, or (B) a number of direct recording electronic voting tabulators equal to fifty per cent of the number of voting districts in the municipality, whichever is less. Not later than five business days after a primary in which a direct recording electronic voting tabulator is used, the registrar of voters of the party holding the primary shall conduct such a manual audit by designating two or more individuals, one of whom may be the registrar, representing at least two candidates in the primary. The tabulators audited under this subdivision shall be selected in a random drawing that is announced in advance to the public and is open to the public. All direct recording electronic voting tabulators used within an assembly district shall have an equal chance of being selected for the audit. The Secretary of the State shall determine and publicly announce the method of conducting the random drawing, before the election. The manual audit shall consist of a manual tabulation of the contemporaneously produced, individual, permanent, voter-verified, paper records produced by each voting tabulator subject to the audit and a comparison of such count, with respect to all candidates and any questions or proposals appearing on the ballot, with the electronic vote tabulation reported for such voting tabulator on the day of the election or primary. Such audit shall not be required if a recanvass has been, or will be, conducted on the voting tabulator. Such manual audit shall be noticed in advance and be open to public observation. A reconciliation sheet, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, that reports and compares the manual and electronic vote tabulations of each candidate and question or proposal on each such voting tabulator, along with any discrepancies, shall be prepared by the audit officials, signed and forthwith filed with the town clerk of the municipality and the Secretary of the State. If any contemporaneously produced, individual, permanent, voter-verified, paper record is found to have been damaged, the same procedures described in subdivision (3) of this section for substituting such record with the voting tabulator generated, individual, permanent, paper record produced by the voting tabulator bearing the identical tabulator generated unique identifier as the damaged record shall apply and be utilized by the audit officials to complete the reconciliation. The reconciliation sheet shall be open to public inspection and may be used as prima facie evidence of a discrepancy in any contest arising pursuant to chapter 149. If the audit officials are unable to reconcile the manual count with the electronic vote tabulation and discrepancies, the Secretary of the State shall conduct such further investigation of the voting tabulator malfunction as may be necessary for the purpose of reviewing whether or not to decertify the voting tabulator or tabulators and may order a recanvass in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (4) of this section.

(6) The individual, permanent, voter-verified, paper records contemporaneously produced by any direct recording electronic voting tabulator in use at an election or primary held on or after July 1, 2005, shall be carefully preserved and returned in their designated receptacle in accordance with the requirements of section 9-266 or 9-310, whichever is applicable, and may not be opened or destroyed, except during recanvass or manual audit as set forth in this section, for one hundred eighty days following an election or primary that does not include a federal office, pursuant to section 9-310, or for twenty-two months following an election or primary involving a federal office, pursuant to 42 USC 1974, as amended from time to time.

(7) Nothing in this section shall preclude any candidate or elector from seeking additional remedies pursuant to chapter 149.

(8) After an election or primary, any voting tabulator may be kept locked for a period longer than that prescribed by sections 9-266, 9-310 and 9-447, if such an extended period is ordered by either a court of competent jurisdiction or the State Elections Enforcement Commission. Either the court or said commission may order an audit of such voting tabulators to be conducted by such persons as the court or said commission may designate.

Sec. 9-244. Inspection by party watchers, party chairpersons, candidates and officials. (a) Such registrars of voters shall give written notice to the chairpersons of the town committees of the political parties of the day and place a registrar or registrars will begin the preparation, test voting and sealing of the tabulators for the election, including any additional tabulators required under section 9-238. Such notice shall be given at least one day before the work on the preparation of such tabulators begins.

(b) Each such chairperson and any candidate for an office appearing on the ballot may be present, or may designate a watcher who may be present, during the preparation of such tabulators, but such chairpersons, candidates and watchers shall not interfere with, or assist in, the preparation of the tabulators.

(c) After the registrar or registrars have prepared the tabulators, the registrars of voters, or their designees, shall test and seal such tabulators for use in the election. The chairpersons of the town committees of the political parties and any candidate for an office appearing on the ballot may also be present, or may designate a watcher who may be present, during the testing and sealing, but such chairpersons, candidates and watchers shall not interfere with the testing or sealing. All such persons who are present for the testing and sealing of the tabulators shall file a written report, as provided in section 9-245, certifying (1) to the numbers of the tabulators, (2) as to whether all the candidate and question counters are set at zero (000), (3) as to the numbers registered on the protective counters, if provided, and the numbers on the seals, (4) that the ballot is properly prepared, and (5) that the tabulators have been test-voted and found to be working properly.

History: 1959 act provided for registrars, rather than selectmen, wardens and mayors, to give notice to town committee chairmen; 1969 acts provided for the chairman rather than the committee to designate a watcher and added reference to additional machines; P.A. 88-48 allowed party chairman to be present for preparation of machines and any candidate to either be present or to designate a watcher and required any chairmen and candidates who are present to file report; P.A. 98-67 divided section into Subsecs., reordered provisions, amended Subsec. (a) to include test voting and sealing in notice, amended Subsec. (b) to prohibit chairpersons, candidates and watchers from assisting in preparation of machines and amended Subsec. (c) by adding provisions concerning testing and sealing of machines, requiring report to be filed by persons present for testing and sealing the machines instead of by persons present for preparation of the machines, and adding to the items to be certified in written report, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) by replacing “mechanic or mechanics” with “registrar or registrars”, amended Subsec. (c) by replacing language re mechanics with language re testing and sealing of tabulators, by eliminating Subdiv. (1) and (2) designators and redesignating existing Subparas. (A) to (E) as Subdivs. (1) to (5), replacing “ballot labels” with “ballot” and replacing reference to label placed on machine with language re preparation of ballot, and replaced “machines” with “tabulators” and made technical changes throughout, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-245. Filing of reports. The reports of the registrars of voters, provided for under section 9-246, and the report provided for under subsection (c) of section 9-244, shall be filed with the municipal clerk and shall be kept by the municipal clerk for at least sixty days after the election for which the tabulators were so prepared.

Sec. 9-246. Duties of registrars re condition of tabulators. Repairs made on election day. Required reports. (a) The registrar or registrars shall file a written report of the condition of each tabulator certifying that (1) they have prepared the tabulators, (2) all the counters are set at zero (000), (3) the ballot is properly prepared, (4) the tabulator has been properly adjusted according to the ballots, and (5) each tabulator is otherwise in readiness for the election. This report shall include the number of each tabulator and a statement of any defects or features of the tabulator that need attention or correction. The registrar or registrars shall also place upon each of the tabulators a numbered seal, secured in such a way that, before any movement of the registering or voting mechanism can be effected, such seal will be destroyed or broken. All voting tabulators shall be transferred to the polling places in charge of an elector authorized by the registrars of voters under whose direction the voting tabulators are to be prepared, as provided in section 9-240a; and such elector shall certify to their delivery in good order. Additional tabulators required under section 9-238 shall be so located by the registrars of voters as to be available for immediate transfer to the polling places within the municipality. The registrar or registrars shall have custody of the keys of the voting tabulators.

(b) The registrar or registrars shall file a written report detailing any repairs made to a tabulator on the day of an election. This report shall certify (1) the number of the tabulator, (2) the time when the problem occurred, (3) a summary description of the work performed, and (4) that no repairs were made to the tabulator, after any vote was cast on the day of an election, that would affect the manner in which votes were recorded on the tabulator.

History: 1959 act provided for registrars rather than selectmen, wardens and mayors to appoint the elector in charge of transferring the voting machines to the polling places; 1969 act provided that additional machines be located so as to be available for immediate transfer, effective with respect to all elections held on or after January 1, 1970; P.A. 83-475 added Subsec. (b) requiring report re election day repairs; P.A. 04-113 added Subsec. (b)(4) re certification that no repairs were made to machine that would affect recording of votes, effective May 21, 2004; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “grouping mechanism” with “tabulator” and “ballot labels are” with “ballot is” and by deleting “metal” re seal and language re the return of machine keys to clerk, and replaced references to mechanics with references to registrars and references to machines with references to tabulators and made technical changes throughout, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-247. Preparation of tabulators. The registrars of voters shall, before the day of the election, cause test ballots to be inserted in each tabulator to ensure that each tabulator is prepared and read and cause each other voting system approved by the Secretary of the State for use in the election, including, but not limited to, voting devices equipped for individuals with disabilities that comply with the provisions of the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-25, as amended from time to time, to be put in order in every way and set and adjust the same so that it shall be ready for use in voting when delivered at the polling place. Such registrars of voters shall cause each voting system to be in order and set and adjusted, to be delivered at the polling place, together with all necessary furniture and appliances that go with the same, at the room where the election is to be held, and to be tested and operable not later than one hour prior to the opening of the polling place.

History: 1969 act deleted “the official or officials ...” and substituted “registrars of voters” as having cognizance of preparation of machines; P.A. 80-281 required that each voting machine contain a pencil for write-in use; P.A. 11-20 deleted provisions re mechanics and pencil, replaced references to machine with references to tabulator or polling place and replaced “ballot labels” with “ballot”, effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-173 replaced language re mechanics and machines with language re test ballots and preparation of tabulators, changed deadline for delivery and set-up of machines not later than six o’clock the day preceding the election to deadline for voting systems to be tested and operable one hour prior to opening of the polling place, and made technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-247a. Candidates, immediate family members and associated business entities prohibited from transporting, preparing, repairing or maintaining voting tabulator. Exception. No candidate, as defined in section 9-601, member of the immediate family, as defined in section 1-79, of a candidate or business entity that a candidate or member of the candidate’s immediate family is an employee, director, officer, owner, limited or general partner or member of in any capacity shall transport, prepare, repair or maintain a voting tabulator. No provision of this section shall prohibit a member of the immediate family of a candidate from serving as a moderator.

History: P.A. 94-203 added Subdiv. (2) allowing candidate for registrar or immediate family member of such a candidate to serve as voting machine mechanic and made a technical change, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 11-173 added prohibition re business entity, deleted former Subdiv. (2) re exception for mechanics, replaced “machine” with “tabulator” and made a technical change, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-248. Furnishing of supplies. When a voting tabulator is purchased or leased or otherwise provided for use in any municipality, the Secretary of the State shall prepare or approve samples of the following printed matter and supplies and shall furnish one of each to the officials of such municipality who have so provided such tabulator in accordance with the provisions of section 9-238: (1) Directions for testing and preparing the voting tabulators for the election; (2) one certificate on which the registrars of voters can certify that they have properly tested and prepared the tabulator for the election; (3) one certificate on which some person other than the registrars of voters who prepared the tabulator can certify that the tabulator has been examined and found to have been properly prepared for the election; (4) one certificate on which can be certified that party watchers have witnessed the testing and preparing of the tabulators; (5) one certificate that the tabulators have been delivered to polling places in good order; (6) one card for each polling place, stating the penalty for tampering with or injuring a voting tabulator; (7) two seals for sealing the tabulator; and (8) a report of an inspection of the tabulators by the moderator, registrars and checkers, which inspection shall be made before the opening of the polls. The registrars of voters shall, for each election, prepare and furnish said supplies for each voting tabulator, in conformity with said samples. The registrars of voters shall also prepare and furnish to the election officials tally and return blanks in such manner as may be directed by the Secretary of the State, except that all blanks furnished by said Secretary throughout the state shall be uniform in their printing.

Sec. 9-249. Instruction of election officials. (a) Before each election, the registrars of voters and the certified head moderator shall instruct the election officials. Any provision of the general statutes or of any special act to the contrary notwithstanding, election officials shall be appointed at least twenty days before the election except as provided in section 9-229. The registrars of voters and the certified head moderator shall instruct each election official who is to serve in a voting district in which a voting tabulator is to be used in the use of the tabulator and the election official’s duties in connection therewith, and for the purpose of giving such instruction, such instructors shall call such meeting or meetings of the election officials as are necessary. Such instructors shall, without delay, file a report in the office of the municipal clerk and with the Secretary of the State, (1) stating that they have instructed the election officials named in the report and the time and place where such instruction was given, and (2) containing a signed statement from each such election official acknowledging that the official has received such instruction.

(b) The election officials of such voting districts shall attend the elections training program developed under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-192a and any other meeting or meetings as are called for the purpose of receiving such instructions concerning their duties as are necessary for the proper conduct of the election.

(c) Each election official who qualifies for and serves in the election shall be paid not less than one dollar for the time spent in receiving such instruction, in the same manner and at the same time as the official is paid for the official’s services on election day.

(d) No election official shall serve in any election unless the official has received such instruction and is fully qualified to perform the official’s duties in connection with the election, but this shall not prevent the appointment of an election official to fill a vacancy in an emergency.

History: 1959 act placed responsibility for instructing election officials in municipal clerk, registrars, and mechanic rather than in board of selectmen; 1963 act eliminated the requirement of giving a certificate to qualified election officials and provided for filing a report re the instructions in the town clerk’s office; P.A. 77-245 changed “town clerk” to “municipal clerk”; P.A. 81-467 added reference to “certified” moderators and mechanics and required that election officials be appointed at least 20, rather than 10, days before election except as provided in Sec. 9-229; P.A. 05-235 divided section into Subsecs. (a) to (d), amended Subsec. (a) to require instructors to file report with Secretary of the State and to require that report contain signed statements from election officials acknowledging receipt of instruction, amended Subsec. (b) to require election officials to attend training program developed under Sec. 9-192a(c)(1), made technical changes in Subsec. (c) and amended Subsec. (d) by substituting “unless the official” for “at which a voting machine is used unless he” and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 06-137 amended Subsec. (a) to eliminate requirement that the municipal clerk instruct election officials, effective June 6, 2006; P.A. 11-20 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to “certified mechanic”, replacing “machine” with “tabulator” and making a technical change, effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to “certified mechanic”, replacing “machine” with “tabulator”, adding “head” re moderator and making technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-249b. Arrangement of ballots when more than nine party designations and petitioning candidate rows. (a) If, after applying the provisions of sections 9-249a and 9-453r, the number of party designations and petitioning candidate rows on the ballot exceeds nine, the Secretary of the State may authorize (1) two or more party designations and petitioning candidates to appear on the same row of the ballot, beginning with the ninth row on the ballot and, if necessary, then moving up one or more rows, (2) that an office take two or more columns on the ballot, and (3) that the party designation, or an abbreviation of it, be repeated on the ballot.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of section 9-135a to the contrary, the secretary may prescribe that the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the absentee ballot.

Sec. 9-250. Form of ballots. Ballots shall be printed in plain clear type and on material of such size as will fit the tabulator, and shall be furnished by the registrar of voters. The size and style of the type used to print the name of a political party on a ballot shall be identical with the size and style of the type used to print the names of all other political parties appearing on such ballot. The name of each major party candidate for a municipal office, as defined in section 9-372, except for the municipal offices of state senator and state representative, shall appear on the ballot as it appears on the registry list of the candidate’s town of voting residence, except as provided in section 9-42a. The name of each major party candidate for a state or district office, as defined in section 9-372, or for the municipal office of state senator or state representative shall appear on the ballot as it appears on the certificate or statement of consent filed under section 9-388, subsection (b) of section 9-391, or section 9-400 or 9-409. The name of each minor party candidate shall appear on the ballot as it appears on the registry list in accordance with the provisions of section 9-452. The name of each nominating petition candidate shall appear on the ballot as it is verified by the town clerk on the application filed under section 9-453b. The size and style of the type used to print the name of a candidate on a ballot shall be identical with the size and style of the type used to print the names of all other candidates appearing on such ballot. Such ballot shall contain the names of the offices and the names of the candidates arranged thereon. The names of the political parties and party designations shall be arranged on the ballots and followed by the word “party”, either in columns or horizontal rows as set forth in section 9-249a, immediately adjacent to the column or row occupied by the candidate or candidates of such political party or organization. The ballot shall be printed in such manner as to indicate how many candidates the elector may vote for each office, provided in the case of a town adopting the provisions of section 9-204a, such ballot shall indicate the maximum number of candidates who may be elected to such office from any party. If two or more candidates are to be elected to the same office for different terms, the term for which each is nominated shall be printed on the official ballot as a part of the title of the office. If, at any election, one candidate is to be elected for a full term and another to fill a vacancy, the official ballot containing the names of the candidates in the foregoing order shall, as a part of the title of the office, designate the term which such candidates are severally nominated to fill. No column, under the name of any political party or independent organization, shall be printed on any official ballot, which contains more candidates for any office than the number for which an elector may vote for that office.

History: P.A. 76-159 deleted provision for secretary of the state to determine positions of political parties on the ballot, referring instead to new Sec. 9-249a and added provision that under certain circumstances the ballot label shall indicate the maximum number of candidates who may be elected to such office from any party; P.A. 82-247 added requirement that voting machine pointer over position where no candidates name appears be locked; P.A. 83-475 added requirement that candidate’s name appear on ballot in same form as on voter registry list except as provided in Sec. 9-42a; P.A. 87-382 required names of certain candidates to appear on ballot label as they appear on certificate or statement of consent, clarified procedure for determining how names of other candidates appear on ballot label and required names of political parties and party designations to be immediately adjacent to column or row occupied by candidate or candidates of such political party or organization; P.A. 07-194 changed “ballot label” to “ballot”, deleted provision re locking of machine pointer over each position where no candidate’s name appears and made conforming changes; P.A. 11-173 eliminated requirement that ballots be in black ink on clear white material and replaced language re form of ballot when 2 or more candidates are to be elected to same office with language requiring that ballot indicate how many candidates elector may vote for each office, effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 13-180 added requirement that party designations be followed by the word “party”, effective June 18, 2013.

Sec. 9-250a. Blank space where party fails to nominate. When a political party has failed to nominate a candidate for any office for which it is entitled to make such nomination, the space on the ballot in which the name of the party’s candidate would appear shall be left blank.

(1963, P.A. 198; P.A. 11-20, S. 1.)

History: Pursuant to P.A. 11-20, “ballot label” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “ballot”, effective May 24, 2011.

Sec. 9-251. Order of office on ballots. In the preparation of ballots for use at a state election, precedence shall be given to the offices to be voted for at such election in the following descending order: Presidential electors, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, United States senator, representative in Congress, state senator, state representative, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller, Attorney General and judge of probate. In the preparation of ballots for use at a municipal election, unless otherwise provided by law, the order of the offices shall be as prescribed by the Secretary of the State, which order, so far as practicable, shall be uniform throughout the state.

History: 1963 act provided for pairing of governor and lieutenant governor on ballot label; 1964 act deleted representative-at-large; 1971 act changed order of precedence so that state senator and state representative follow representative in congress in that order; P.A. 73-577 changed order of precedence so that secretary of the state, treasurer, comptroller and attorney general follow state representative in that order; P.A. 74-109 deleted justices of the peace, effective upon adoption of Senate Joint Resolution No. 22 of the 1973 session as an amendment to the constitution of Connecticut; P.A. 00-99 deleted reference to sheriff, effective December 1, 2000; pursuant to P.A. 11-20, “ballot labels” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “ballots”, effective May 24, 2011.

Sec. 9-253. Order of names of party nominees for multiple-opening office determined by lot. Order when candidate nominated by more than one party. When a major or minor party is entitled to nominate two or more candidates for a particular office, the order of the names of its candidates for such office appearing on the voting machine ballot label shall be determined by the registrars of voters by lot in a ceremony which shall be open to the public, except as hereinafter provided. When such a candidate is nominated for the same office by more than one party, his name shall appear on each appropriate row on the voting machine ballot label in the same column in which it appears under the foregoing provision in either (1) the party row of the party with which he is enrolled or (2) the first party row on which his name is to appear if such candidate is an unaffiliated elector. The registrars of voters shall provide at least five days’ public notice for each ceremony held under this section. The ballot order of nominating petition candidates for multiple-opening offices shall be as prescribed in section 9-453r.

History: P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide uniformity in statutes re order of unaffiliated electors or petitioning party candidates on ballot and order of major and minor party candidates; P.A. 87-197 required order of names on ballot label to be determined by lot instead of appearing in alphabetical order and added provision requiring that 5 days’ notice be given before ceremony held.

Sec. 9-254. List of municipal offices to be filled. Each municipal clerk shall, not later than the one hundred eightieth day prior to the day of any regular municipal election, file with the Secretary of the State, on a form approved by said Secretary, a list of the offices to be filled at such election and the terms thereof and the number of candidates for which each elector may vote. Said Secretary shall, within seventy days from the date of receipt of such list, return a copy of such list to the municipal clerk. Each municipal clerk shall, not later than ten days after the receipt of the returned list, mail a copy thereof to the chairman of the town committee of each major political party within the municipality.

History: 1965 act provided that secretary of the state within 70 days of receipt of the list return a copy to the municipal clerk who, within 10 days after receipt of same will mail a copy to the chairman of the town committee of each major party; P.A. 87-382 substituted “one hundred eightieth day” for “six months”; P.A. 11-173 applied section to municipal elections and made a technical change, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-255. Sample ballots. The registrars of voters shall provide for all polling places using voting tabulators at least two sample ballots that shall contain the offices, party designations, names of candidates, write-in slots and questions to be voted upon. On each such sample ballot shall be printed instructions as to the use of the voting tabulator, which instructions shall be approved by the Secretary of the State. Such sample ballots shall be so posted inside the polling place as to be visible to those within the polling place during the whole day of election. At least one of such sample ballots shall be so posted as to be visible to an elector being instructed on the use of the voting tabulator under section 9-260.

Sec. 9-255a. Certification re number of ballots ordered. (a) The registrars of voters and municipal clerk from each municipality shall jointly certify, in writing, to the Secretary of the State the number of ballots for each polling place in the municipality that have been ordered for each election or primary to be held within such municipality. Such certification shall be on a form provided by the Secretary that shall have questions, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to the historical turnout for each polling place in the municipality for the past four elections or primaries of similar nature to the election or primary to be held. The registrars of voters and municipal clerk shall include as part of any such certification any other relevant factors that may be unique to each polling place in their municipality. Such certification shall be provided to the Secretary not later than thirty-one days prior to an election or twenty-one days prior to a primary.

(b) If the registrars of voters and municipal clerk of a municipality do not jointly submit the certification as set forth in subsection (a) of this section, such registrars of voters and municipal clerk shall order a number of ballots equal to the total number of registered voters in their municipality for such election or primary.

(c) The registrars of voters and municipal clerk may jointly apply to the Secretary of the State for a waiver of the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such waiver request shall be submitted to the Secretary of the State, in writing, not later than the forty-fifth day before the election or the thirtieth day before the primary to be held and shall demonstrate good cause for such waiver. Not later than five days after receipt of such waiver request, the Secretary shall notify, in writing, the municipal clerk requesting a waiver, of the Secretary’s response.

(d) The Secretary of the State shall have the authority to reject the certification submitted by a municipality pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. If the Secretary of the State rejects such certification, the Secretary shall provide, in writing, the reasons for such rejection. Such rejection by the Secretary shall require any such municipality to follow the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. If, not later than seven days after the receipt of a certification from a municipality, the Secretary does not notify the municipality that its certification was rejected, such certification shall be deemed accepted.

Sec. 9-256. Filing of sample ballot with Secretary. The registrars of voters of each municipality shall, not less than ten days prior to an election, file with the Secretary of the State a sample ballot identical with those to be provided for each polling place under section 9-255. The Secretary of the State shall examine the sample ballot required to be filed under this section, and if such sample ballot contains an error, the Secretary of the State shall order the registrars of voters to reprint a corrected sample ballot or to take other such action as the Secretary may deem appropriate.

History: P.A. 77-303 provided for action to be taken by secretary of the state if sample ballot label contains an error; P.A. 11-173 replaced references to clerk with “registrars of voters” and replaced “ballot label” with “ballot”, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-257. Location of voting tabulator and stationing of officials. The room in which the election is held shall be separated from the part of the room to be occupied by the election officials and the voting tabulator shall be placed, if possible, at least three feet from any wall or partition and at least four feet from the official checkers’ table and the ballot clerks’ table. Every part of the polling place shall be in plain view of the election officials. The tabulator shall be so placed that no person from any part of the room or from any place outside the room can see or determine how the elector casts his or her vote. The election officials shall be so stationed that no member thereof shall be concealed by the tabulator from the electors within the polling place. The moderator or some one designated by the moderator shall be stationed near the tabulator, shall regulate the admission of the elector’s ballots thereto and shall always be in full view of the other election officials and the electors within the polling place.

Sec. 9-258. Election officials; additional lines of electors. (a) For municipalities with more than one voting district, the election officials of each polling place shall be electors of the state and shall consist of one moderator, at least one, but not more than two official checkers, two assistant registrars of voters of opposite political parties, each of whom shall be residents of the town, not more than two challengers if the registrars of voters have appointed challengers pursuant to section 9-232, and at least one and not more than two ballot clerks and at least one but not more than two voting tabulator tenders for each voting tabulator in use at the polling place. A known candidate for any office shall not serve as an election official on election day or serve at the polls in any capacity, except that a municipal clerk or a registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, may perform his or her official duties. If, in the opinion of the registrar of voters, the public convenience of the electors in any voting district so requires, provision shall be made for an additional line or lines of electors at the polling place and, if more than one line of electors is established, at least one but not more than two additional official checkers and at least one but not more than two ballot clerks for each line of electors shall be appointed and, if more than one tabulator is used in a polling place, at least one and not more than two additional voting tabulator tenders shall be appointed for each additional machine so used. Head moderators, central counting moderators and absentee ballot counters appointed pursuant to law shall also be deemed election officials.

(b) For municipalities with one voting district, the election officials of such polling place shall be electors of the state and shall consist of one moderator, at least one, but not more than two official checkers, not more than two challengers if the registrars of voters have appointed challengers pursuant to section 9-232, at least one and not more than two voting tabulator tenders for each voting tabulator in use at the polling place and at least one but not more than two ballot clerks. Additionally, such election officials may consist of two registrars of voters of opposite political parties, or two assistant registrars of voters of opposite political parties, as the case may be, subject to the requirements of sections 9-259 and 9-439, provided if the registrars of voters are present in the polling place, they shall appoint at least one designee to be present in their office. A known candidate for any office shall not serve as an election official on election day or serve at the polls in any capacity, except that a municipal clerk or a registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, may perform his or her official duties. If, in the opinion of the registrar of voters, the public convenience of the electors in any voting district so requires, provision shall be made for an additional line or lines of electors at the polling place and, if more than one line of electors is established, at least one, but not more than two, additional official checkers for each line of electors shall be appointed and, if more than one tabulator is used in a polling place, at least one and not more than two additional voting tabulator tenders shall be appointed for each additional tabulator so used. Head moderators, central counting moderators and absentee ballot counters appointed pursuant to law shall be deemed to be election officials.

(c) No election official shall perform services for any party or candidate on election day nor appear at any political party headquarters prior to eight o’clock p.m. on election day.

History: 1959 acts substituted registrars or assistant registrars of voters for deputy registrars and removed reference to trial justice court which was abolished; P.A. 74-109 removed the exception for office of justice of the peace from prohibition against candidates serving as election officials effective upon adoption of Senate Joint Resolution No. 22 of the 1973 session as an amendment to the constitution of Connecticut; P.A. 75-488 added “and party checkers” to “additional officers” to be appointed if more than one line of electors is established; P.A. 76-24 changed “party checkers” to “unofficial checkers”; P.A. 77-245 changed “town” to “municipal” clerk; P.A. 80-215 added qualification that election officials be electors of the town; P.A. 83-391 amended section to provide that voting machine mechanics need not be electors of town and to permit use of less than two challengers and two voting machine tenders and added provision to clarify that head moderators, central counting moderators, absentee ballot counters and voting machine mechanics are election officials and to provide that election officials shall not perform services for any party or candidate on election day; P.A. 84-546 moved exception re voting machine mechanics; P.A. 88-91 prohibited a municipal clerk or a registrar of voters who is a candidate for a different office from serving as an election official on election day or serving at the polls in any capacity; P.A. 07-194 established requirements for municipalities with more than one voting district and requirements for municipalities with one voting district, replaced “voting machine” with “voting tabulator” and made conforming changes; P.A. 11-173 designated existing provisions as Subsecs. (a) to (c), amended Subsec. (b) to provide that election officials be electors of the state rather than the town, eliminate former Subdivs. (1) to (3) re requirements of registrars of voters and add proviso re appointment of designee to be present in office, and deleted references to voting tabulator technicians and made technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

To “take part in count” construed; what ballots to be rejected because of participation in count. 62 C. 482.

Sec. 9-258a. Two shifts of election officials. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, special acts or its charter, in each municipality the registrars of voters, or assistant registrar of voters, as the case may be may establish, except for unofficial checkers and the moderator, two shifts of election officials for each polling place. In each polling place for which two or more shifts of election officials have been provided in this section or section 9-235, the moderator shall keep a written record of the specific hours and time served at the polls by each election official. In each such polling place, all members of second shifts, including official checkers, assistant registrars and ballot clerks of second shifts, shall be present at the closing of the polls and shall remain until all paperwork has been executed.

(1969, P.A. 500, S. 1; P.A. 88-173, S. 3; P.A. 07-194, S. 22.)

History: P.A. 88-173 excepted unofficial checkers from provision allowing legislative body to establish two shifts of election officials; P.A. 07-194 provided registrars of voters or assistant registrars of voters with authority to establish two shifts of election officials and made technical changes.

Sec. 9-259. Duties of election officials before polls open; moderator’s return certificates. (a) The moderator of the election in each municipality, voting district or ward shall appear at the office of the registrar of voters not later than eight o’clock p.m. of the day before the election and there receive from the registrar of voters the sample ballot, all checklists and other supplies necessary to conduct the election that have not been delivered previously. The moderator shall receive keys for each voting tabulator to be used in the polling place and sign a receipt for such.

(b) On the morning of the election, the election officials shall meet at the room where the election is to be held at least forty-five minutes before the time for opening the polls. The moderator shall then cause the sample ballot and instructions to be posted and everything put in readiness for the commencement of voting at the hour of opening the polls. The moderator and the registrars of voters, or the assistant registrars of voters, as the case may be, shall examine the numbers on the seals of the tabulator.

(c) The moderator’s return which the moderator receives from the registrars of voters for all elections shall be in a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State. The moderator and the registrars of voters, or the assistant registrars of voters, as the case may be, before the polls are opened, shall indicate on the return: (1) The delivery of the tabulator; and (2) the numbers on the seals. Additionally, the moderator and the registrars of voters, or the assistant registrars of voters, as the case may be, shall produce a zero tape indicating that the public counter is set at zero (000). The seal on the tabulator shall remain unbroken. If the seal is broken, the registrars of voters shall be notified immediately and the tabulator tape shall be produced. If the tape does not show all zeros, the registrars of voters shall be notified immediately and the tabulator shall not be used.

(d) In addition to the requirements established in subsection (c) of this section, the return shall include a certificate, which shall be filled out after the polls have been closed and which indicates that the tabulator has been locked against voting and remains sealed and that also indicates the number of electors as shown on the public counter along with the number on all the seals. The moderators’ returns shall show the total number of votes cast for each office, the number of votes cast for each candidate and the number of votes for persons not nominated, which shall be certified by the moderator and registrars of voters, or assistant registrars, as the case may be.

History: 1959 act required registrars rather than selectmen, wardens or mayors to be present when envelope is opened where the numbers on machine and on envelope with keys do not agree; 1965 acts changed from six to eight o’clock the afternoon before election the time before which moderator to appear at office of municipal clerk, added provision where machine is equipped with device for printing totals that the doors concealing the counters shall not be opened, required election officials to examine printed record to see that each counter registers zero and allowed watchers to examine the record; P.A. 75-123 provided that moderator’s return be in form prescribed by secretary of the state; P.A. 83-475 provided for receipt of only the number two and three keys for machines; P.A. 98-67 added sentence re availability of number four election official key, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-66 divided section into Subsecs.; P.A. 00-79 added provision requiring supplies provided by municipal clerk to moderator to include minimum number of paper ballots; P.A. 07-194 changed “municipal clerk” to “registrar of voters”, divided existing Subsec. (c) into Subsecs. (c) and (d), amended procedures re voting machines to reflect use of voting tabulators, deleted former Subsec. (d) re mechanic’s seal and made conforming and technical changes.

Sec. 9-260. Instruction by means of demonstrator device. A demonstrator device shall be provided inside the polling place for the instruction of electors. Any such demonstrator device shall instruct electors on the proper method to cast their vote, including the proper method to cast a write-in vote using the voting equipment located in each polling place. Upon request by any elector who desires instruction after he has entered the polling place and prior to casting his vote, two election officials of different political parties jointly shall instruct such elector on the demonstrator device.

History: P.A. 87-382 authorized the use of a spare voting machine in place of a demonstrator machine and changed the term “dummy machine” to “demonstrator machine”; P.A. 11-173 replaced references to demonstrator machine or spare voting machine with references to demonstrator device and deleted language specific to lever voting machines, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-261. Process of voting. (a) In each primary, election or referendum, when an elector has entered the polling place, the elector shall announce the elector’s street address, if any, and the elector’s name to the official checker or checkers in a tone sufficiently loud and clear as to enable all the election officials present to hear the same. Each elector who registered to vote by mail for the first time on or after January 1, 2003, and has a “mark” next to the elector’s name on the official registry list, as required by section 9-23r, shall present to the official checker or checkers, before the elector votes, either a current and valid photo identification that shows the elector’s name and address or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector. Each other elector shall (1) present to the official checker or checkers the elector’s Social Security card or any other preprinted form of identification which shows the elector’s name and either the elector’s address, signature or photograph, or (2) on a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, write the elector’s residential address and date of birth, print the elector’s name and sign a statement under penalty of false statement that the elector is the elector whose name appears on the official checklist. Such form shall clearly state the penalty of false statement. A separate form shall be used for each elector. If the elector presents a preprinted form of identification under subdivision (1) of this subsection, the official checker or checkers shall check the name of such elector on the official checklist, manually on paper or electronically. If the elector completes the form under subdivision (2) of this subsection, the registrar of voters or the assistant registrar of voters, as the case may be, shall examine the information on such form and either instruct the official checker or checkers to check the name of such elector on the official checklist, manually on paper or electronically, or notify the elector that the form is incomplete or inaccurate.

(b) In the event that an elector is present at the polling place but is unable to gain access to the polling place due to a temporary incapacity, the elector may request that the ballot be brought to him or her. The registrars of voters or the assistant registrars of voters, as the case may be, shall take such ballot, along with a privacy sleeve to such elector. The elector shall show identification, in accordance with the provisions of this section. The elector shall forthwith mark the ballot in the presence of the election officials in such manner that the election officials shall not know how the ballot is marked. The elector shall place the ballot in the privacy sleeve. The election officials shall mark the elector’s name on the official voter list, manually on paper or electronically, as having voted in person and deliver such ballot and privacy sleeve to the voting tabulator where such ballot shall be placed into the tabulator, by the election official, for counting. The moderator shall record such activity in the moderator’s diary.

(c) In each polling place in which two or more parties are holding primaries in which unaffiliated electors are authorized to vote, pursuant to section 9-431, an unaffiliated elector shall also announce to the separate table of the official checker or checkers for unaffiliated electors the party in whose primary the elector chooses to vote and the official checker or checkers shall note such party when checking such elector’s name on the checklist of unaffiliated electors, manually on paper or electronically, provided such choice shall not alter the elector’s unaffiliated status.

(d) In each polling place in which two or more parties are holding primaries in which unaffiliated electors are authorized to vote or in which one party is holding a primary in which unaffiliated electors are authorized to vote for some but not all offices to be contested at the primary, the official checker or checkers shall give to each elector checked manually on paper or electronically, a receipt provided by the registrars of voters, in a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, specifying either (1) the party with which the elector is enrolled, if any, or (2) in the case of an unaffiliated elector, the party in whose primary the elector has so chosen to vote, and whether the elector is authorized to vote for only a partial ballot.

(e) If not challenged by anyone lawfully present in the polling place, the elector shall be permitted to pass to the separated area to receive the ballot. The elector shall give any receipt the elector has received to a ballot clerk who shall give the elector a ballot to vote only in the primary of the party specified by the receipt. The elector shall be permitted into the voting booth area, and shall then register his or her vote in secret. Having voted, the elector shall immediately exit the voting booth area and deposit the ballot in the voting tabulator and leave the room. No elector shall remain within the voting booth longer than the time necessary to complete the ballot, and, if the elector refuses to leave such booth after completing the ballot, the elector shall at once be removed by the election officials upon order of the moderator. Not more than one elector at a time shall be permitted to be within the enclosed space which the elector occupies while the elector completes his or her ballot, provided an elector may be accompanied within such enclosed space by one or more children who are fifteen years of age or younger and supervised by the elector, if the elector is the parent or legal guardian of such children. If any elector, after entering the voting booth area, asks for further instruction concerning the manner of voting, the election officials shall give such instructions or directions to the elector; but no election official instructing or assisting an elector, except as provided in section 9-264, shall look at the ballot in such a way as to see the elector’s markings or in any manner seek to influence any such elector in the casting of the elector’s vote.

History: 1967 act changed from one to two minutes times allowed elector to remain in voting booth; P.A. 87-251 allowed children 10 years of age or younger to accompany an elector within enclosed space occupied by elector while operating machine; P.A. 87-509 divided section in to Subdivs., in Subdiv. (1) substituted “checklist” for “registry list”, added Subdivs. (2) and (3) re process of voting for unaffiliated electors when two or more parties hold primaries in which unaffiliated electors authorized to vote or (Subdiv. (3) only) one party holds primary in which unaffiliated electors authorized to vote for some but not all offices contested at primary and, in Subdiv. (4) added provisions re receipt; P.A. 93-300 added Subdiv. (1)(B), requiring elector to present identification or sign statement that he is elector whose name appears on checklist; P.A. 95-87 revised Subsec., Subdiv. and Subpara. indicators to conform with customary statutory usage and in Subsec. (a) replaced forms “provided” by Secretary of the State with “prescribed” forms; P.A. 97-154 amended Subsec. (d) to increase maximum age of children who may accompany an elector into enclosed space of voting machine booth, from 10 years to 15 years, and to add proviso that such elector be the parent or legal guardian of such children, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-276 amended Subsec. (a) by applying provisions to each primary, election and referendum, effective January, 1, 2000; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (a) by renumbering subdivisions, requiring each elector who registered to vote by mail for first time on or after January 1, 2003, and has a mark next to the elector’s name on registry list to present identifying information to checkers before voting, requiring elector signing statement to write elector’s residential address and date of birth and print elector’s name on form which states penalty of false statement, requiring separate form for each elector, requiring assistant registrar of voters to examine information on form and instruct checkers, and making technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 04-74 amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference to Sec. 9-23g(e) with reference to Sec. 9-23r, effective May 10, 2004; P.A. 07-194 added new Subsec. (b) re temporary incapacity, redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) to (d) as Subsecs. (c) to (e), replaced “checkers” with “official checkers” and “municipal clerk” with “registrar of voters”, deleted provisions re voting machines and made conforming and technical changes; P.A. 14-217 amended Subsecs. (a) to (d) by adding references to manual or electronic checking of electors, amended Subsec. (e) by deleting provision permitting two additional electors to be in polling area and made technical changes, effective June 13, 2014.

Sec. 9-261a. Preparation of polling place form of identification by committee prohibited. No committee, as defined in section 9-601, shall prepare any form of identification for the purpose of being presented to the checkers at the polling place pursuant to section 9-261.

Sec. 9-261b. Privacy sleeve. The registrars of voters shall either ensure that each ballot clerk offer every elector a privacy sleeve into which the ballot can be inserted and fully shielded from view or, in the alternative, place such privacy sleeve in every voting booth for the elector’s use. No elector shall be required to accept a privacy sleeve.

Sec. 9-261c. Electronic devices used to check names of electors. The Secretary of the State shall review, in consultation and coordination with The University of Connecticut, electronic devices that could assist official checkers in checking the names of electors pursuant to section 9-234 or any regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter. Not later than September 1, 2015, the Secretary shall include on a list any such device that the Secretary approves and shall make such list available to municipalities in a manner determined by the Secretary. The Secretary may add or remove a device from such list, as the Secretary determines such addition or removal is necessary.

Sec. 9-262. Duties of election officials during voting hours. During the entire period of an election, at least one of the election officials shall be stationed approximately three to four feet from the voting tabulator to regulate the submission of the elector’s ballot. The election officials shall also, at such intervals as such officials deem proper or necessary, examine the voting booth to ascertain whether it has been defaced or damaged and to detect the wrongdoer and repair the damage. After the opening of the polls, no election official shall allow any person other than the election officials to pass within the area where the voting booths and voting tabulator are situated, except for the purpose of voting or except as provided in this part. No election official shall remain or permit any person to remain in any position or near any position that would permit him to see or ascertain how an elector votes.

Sec. 9-264. Assistance to elector who is blind, has disability or is unable to write or to read the ballot. An elector who requires assistance to vote, by reason of blindness, disability or inability to write or to read the ballot, may be given assistance by a person of the elector’s choice, other than (1) the elector’s employer, (2) an agent of such employer, (3) an officer or agent of the elector’s union, or (4) a candidate for any office on the ballot, unless the elector is a member of the immediate family of such candidate. The person assisting the elector may accompany the elector into the voting booth. Such person shall register such elector’s vote upon the ballot as such elector directs. Any person accompanying an elector into the voting booth who deceives any elector in registering the elector’s vote under this section or seeks to influence any elector while in the act of voting, or who registers any vote for any elector or on any question other than as requested by such elector, or who gives information to any person as to what person or persons such elector voted for, or how such elector voted on any question, shall be guilty of a class D felony. As used in this section, “immediate family” means “immediate family” as defined in section 9-140b.

History: 1961 act made special provision for blind electors and made other technical changes; P.A. 75-133 deleted provision for physically disabled voter to be accompanied into voting machine booth by two election officials of opposite parties, substituting therefor a person of his choice who is a Connecticut elector and providing for such person to register disabled voter’s vote on machine as he directs; P.A. 87-382 amended provisions to clarify who qualifies for assistance and to indicate who may provide assistance to an elector and deleted a reference to voting for a “ticket”; P.A. 93-384 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) requiring paper ballots to be made available to electors with disabilities who are unable to reach all necessary parts of voting machine, effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 00-79 amended Subsec. (b) to specify paper ballots “provided by the municipal clerk to the moderator pursuant to section 9-259” and to make technical changes; P.A. 11-20 replaced “voting machine booth” with “voting booth” and “machine” with “ballot”, made technical changes, eliminated Subsec. (a) designator and eliminated former Subsec. (b) re paper ballots, effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-173 added Subdiv. (4) re candidate for office, replaced “voting machine booth” with “voting booth” and “machine” with “ballot”, defined “immediate family”, made technical changes, deleted Subsec. (a) designator and deleted former Subsec. (b) re paper ballots, effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 13-258 changed penalty from a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years to a class D felony.

Sec. 9-265. Write-in votes. (a) A write-in vote for an office, cast for a person who has registered as a write-in candidate for the office pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-175 or section 9-373a, shall be counted and recorded. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a write-in vote cast for a person who has not registered shall not be counted or recorded.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the case of an office for which an elector may vote for only one candidate, a write-in vote cast for a person nominated for that office by a major or minor party or by nominating petition shall be counted and recorded. In the case of an office for which an elector may vote for more than one candidate, a write-in vote cast for a person nominated for that office by a major or minor party or by nominating petition shall be counted and recorded if it can be determined which candidate such vote should be attributed to.

(c) A write-in vote for the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor, cast for a person nominated for either of those offices by a major or minor party or by nominating petition, in conjunction with a write-in vote for the other such office cast for a person nominated for either office by a different party or petition, shall not be counted or recorded for either office.

(d) Except as hereinafter provided, a write-in vote for the office of President or Vice-President cast for a person nominated for such office by a major or minor party or by nominating petition shall be counted and recorded and deemed to be a vote for each of the duly-nominated candidates for the office of presidential elector represented by such candidate for President or Vice-President. A write-in vote for the office of President or Vice-President, cast for a person nominated for either of such offices by a major or minor party or by nominating petition, in conjunction with a write-in vote for the other such office cast for a person nominated for either office by a different party or petition, shall not be counted or recorded for either office.

(e) If the name of a person is written in for the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor, or President or Vice-President, as the case may be, and no name is written in for the other office, such write-in vote shall be counted and recorded if it meets the other requirements of this section.

(f) A write-in vote shall be cast in its appropriate place on the ballot. A write-in vote for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, or for President and Vice-President, as the case may be, shall be written in a single space, provided that if only one name is written in the space it shall be deemed to be a vote for Governor, or for President, as the case may be, unless otherwise indicated. A write-in vote shall be written upon the ballot.

(g) A write-in vote which is not cast as provided in this section shall not be counted or recorded.

History: 1963 act provided for pairing of governor and lieutenant governor; 1969 act prohibited writing-in of candidates name from two different parties where the names appear on the ballot label in casting votes for governor and lieutenant governor and provided that a write-in of one name which already appears on the ballot unaccompanied by a write-in for the other office bars the counting of the ballot; P.A. 77-82 included provision for candidates for office of presidential elector to be deemed to appear on ballot label and names of presidential and vice-presidential candidates appearing on ballot label shall be deemed to be candidates for the office under which designation their names appear, for the purposes of this section; P.A. 77-245 changed “town” to “municipal” clerk; P.A. 81-350 amended section to require labeling of write-in slides on voting machines; P.A. 83-475 deleted all of prior existing section and replaced with new Subsecs. (a) to (g), inclusive, permitting write-in votes cast by electors for candidates whose names appear on the ballot label to be counted for offices for which electors may only vote for one candidate, and setting forth procedure for casting write-in ballots; P.A. 87-589 made technical change in Subsec. (g); P.A. 98-67 added provision in Subsec. (f) re when registrars required to lock write-in slides, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 07-194 changed “write-in ballot” to “write-in vote” and made conforming changes; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that write-in vote for person nominated for an office for which elector may vote for more than one candidate shall be counted and recorded if it can be determined which candidate the vote should be attributed to, effective July 13, 2011.

See Sec. 9-153e re write-in votes on special absentee ballots for certain military personnel.

Sec. 9-266. Keys to be kept. Storage of voting tabulator. When the voting tabulator has been locked at the close of an election, the moderator shall return the keys for the tabulator to the registrars of voters with the official returns. Except as provided in section 9-311, such registrars of voters shall securely keep such keys and not permit the same to be taken, or any tabulator to be unlocked, for a period of fourteen days from the election, unless otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, or by the State Elections Enforcement Commission. All tabulators shall be collected immediately on the day after election or as soon thereafter as possible, and shall be secured and stored in a place or places directed by the registrars of voters.

History: P.A. 86-1 added reference to order issued by state elections enforcement commission; P.A. 95-88 changed number of days machine remains locked from 10 to 14; P.A. 07-194 changed “voting machine” to “voting tabulator” and made conforming and technical changes.

Sec. 9-267. Removal of officials. If, at any time during the performance of his or her duties, any moderator, assistant registrar of voters, official checker, ballot clerk or voting tabulator tender is, from any cause, found incompetent, the registrars of voters may remove him or her and appoint another competent person.

History: 1971 act added moderator and challenger to those who may be removed for incompetence; P.A. 11-173 replaced “challenger, voting machine tender or checker” with “assistant registrar of voters, official checker, ballot clerk or voting tabulator tender” and made technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

Sec. 9-268. Duties of selectmen imposed on other officials. Whenever the duties imposed by this part upon selectmen are imposed by the charter of any municipality upon any other officer or officers, the term “selectmen”, as used herein, shall be construed to apply to such other officer or officers, who shall be vested with all the powers and duties and shall be subject to all the obligations imposed by this chapter upon such selectmen. In any municipality where by charter the duties of selectmen are limited to the admission of electors and are not imposed by charter upon any other officer or officers, the term “selectmen”, as used herein, shall apply to the registrars of voters of such municipality, who shall be vested with all the powers and duties and shall be subject to all the obligations imposed by this part upon such selectmen.

Sec. 9-269. Borough election officials. In the case of a borough election, the duties and privileges of the various town and city officials specified in this part shall be exercised by the corresponding borough officials.

Sec. 9-272. Conditions under which use of voting tabulators may be discontinued. If, owing to the number of candidates to be voted upon, owing to inability to obtain a sufficient number of voting tabulators or, if it is found impracticable to use voting tabulators at any election, primary or referenda to be held in any municipality, or in one or more of the voting districts therein, the registrars of voters may discontinue the use of such tabulators for such election in any of the voting districts therein, and shall thereupon cause ballots to be procured and used at such election, primary or referenda in each of the voting districts wherein the use of voting tabulators has been so discontinued. The procedures for securing and counting the paper ballots described in this section shall be in compliance as nearly as possible, in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of the State, with the procedures for securing and counting absentee ballots.

History: 1963 act authorized municipal clerk and registrars rather than board of selectmen, common council or, warden and burgesses to discontinue use of machines; P.A. 07-194 replaced “voting machines” with “voting tabulators” and made technical changes; P.A. 11-20 deleted “as provided by this part”, effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-173 added references to primary or referenda and language re procedures for paper ballots complying, in manner prescribed by Secretary of the State, with procedures for absentee ballots, and made technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

Secs. 9-279 to 9-306. Form of ballot. Sample ballots. Insertion on ballot on death of nominee. Ballot to resolve tie vote. Secretary to transmit ballots. Clerks to obtain ballots if not received two days before election. Packaging of ballots, method of opening. Ballot box sealing stamp. Ballot box lock. Clerks to be custodians of keys. Registrars of voters to provide rooms or booths and ballot boxes. Ballot table; process of voting. Arrangement of and admission to voting place. Method of voting. Method of balloting. Deposit of ballots; booth tenders. Improper markings of ballot. Box-tenders. Interference prohibited; assistance of physically disabled persons. Removal of officials. Counters; certificates; declaration of vote. Deposit of certificates. Ballot return by moderators for state elections. Return of ballots to box, sealing and preservation. Destruction of unused official ballots. Fraudulent abstracting or intermingling of votes. Failure of moderator to return keys. Penalties. Sections 9-279 to 9-306, inclusive, are repealed, effective May 24, 2011.